Auto-signaling device



Juy 23, 935.

L. J. BINDER AUTO SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Sept. 14, 1931 Vtion of a motor vehicle.

Patented July 23, 1935 UNITED] STATES PATENT l OFFICE 2,008,849- AUTO-SIGNALING DEvIoE y Leo J Binder, Spokane, Wash. Application September 14, 1031, Serial No. 562,725 2 Claims. (Cl. 116-50) My invention relates to auto-signaling devices and is also adapted to be used as an auto-pass or parking signal. Certain objects of the invention are to provide a signal device, in combination with a motor vehicle, comprising aplurality of tubes telescopically arranged and provided with automatic means whereby the device is readily extended to the outward operative position and retraoted to the inward inoperative position by the driver from the seat of the vehicle. Further objects are to provide lighting means and reector means for the extendible tubular members together with a fabric or flexible stocking forming an envelope around the tubes in the outward position andadapted to fold within the vdevice in the inward position, and wherebir part of the lightk is projected rearwardly into the stocking or envelope in its outstretched position. Still further objects are to provide a conduit that is arranged to serve'the dual purpose of supplying current to the light and as a means for retracting the device to objects are accomplished by devices illustrated in l theraccompanying drawing; whereinzy Figure l is a general view showing the device in elevation in the outward position and mounted `on the cowl portion of an automobile which is shown in transverse vertical section ;V y

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in longitudinal section showing the device in its retracted position;

Fig. 3 is a view in transverse vertical section taken substantially on a broken line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail Aview in perspective showing a portion of the inner tube with slots for retaining the light bulb and reiiector;

Fig. 5 is a view in longitudinal section showing a modiiied form of device in its extended position and adapted to be operated by a pressure medium and spring arrangement and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail Viewin longitudinal section showing the means forr mounting the light bulb and spider member on the inner tube.

Referring to the drawing throughout which like reference numerals indicate like parts, the numeral 5 designates the cowl of the forward porthrough the right or left hand side of said portion and a bracket plate 6 is secured thereto with an internally threaded projecting neck registerin g with the hole. An outer tubular member 1, threaded its full length, is screwed into said neck 1 and is provided on its outer end with a fiared or enlarged bowl portion 8. Said outer tube is pro- A holeris providedr vided near itsY outer end with an internal annular shoulder 9. An intermediate tube I is telescopically mounted within said outer tubexand is provided near its inner end with an external annular shoulder I I that is adapted to abut against the said internal shoulder 9 when said tube isin its outwardly extended position. The inner end of the outer tube is threadedly provided with a cap I2 and a coiled spring I3 interposed therein between said cap and the inner endV of the intermediate tube is adapted to normally retain said intermediate tube in the extended position.

An inner tube I4 is telescopically mounted within the intermediate tube It projecting exteriorly thereof andra spring I coiled around its projecting end portion and bearing against the outer end of said intermediate tube is arranged Ato normally retain said inner tube inthe out- Fig.` 4, the outer end portion of theninner tube is -provided with longitudinal diametrically opposite slots I6 one or both of which are provided with offset slot portions II at their inner ends. A light bulb I8 has small projections I9 on its neck 20 which slide into said slots and are turned into their offset portions to retain the bulb in position.

lSaid slots are alsoV provided with intermediate offsets 2|.

An annular spider member 22 has small interior projections 23 arranged to slip into the slots kII ofthe inner tubeY I4- and be turned into the oisets 2I whereby the spider member is held in position. as most clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. 'Ihe exterior portion of said spider is threaded to receive the internally threaded portion .of an annular reector member 2li. Said reflector is provided with an inner concave portion 25 that envelops a portion of the bulb I8 vand is thus adapted to reflect a portion of the light from the bulb inwardly, and an outer iiange portion 26 that is arranged to reflect some of the light outwardly. Said flange portion is provided with a rim 2l that is adapted to receive a globe 28 of red glass or other suitable material and `U-shaped wires 29V, fitting into grooves in said globe, have theirfends secured to said rim thus retaining the globe in position and serving 'as Aguards for the globe.

yend of said envelope is secured between the spider member 22 and the reflector 24 when they are screwed together as will be understood. Said envelope is accordion pleated so that it folds neatly within the bowl 8 when the device is in the retracted position as shown in Fig. 2, and provides a smooth covering for the tubes when the device is in the extended position as shown in Figs. 1

and 5.

Electric energy is supplied to the light bulb I8 by means of a heavily insulated cable 34 whose outer terminal has a brass bushing 35 thereon and is secured in engageable relation with the terminal of said bulb by means of a screw'36 in a hard rubber plug 37 slidably mounted in the outer end portion of the inner tube I4. Another plug 38 is mounted within the central portion of said inner tube against shoulders 39 that are punched inwardly from the metal thereof. Said cable passes centrally through sai-d plug and is held 'therein by set screws 4B. A coiled spring -fi interposed between said two plugs serves to hold the cable terminal in contact with the 'terminals of the light bulb. VAny slack in this portion of the cable may be eliminated by means of adjustment of the setscrews as will be understood.

The cable 34 serves the dual purpose of supplying current to the lamp i8 and acts as a means for retracting the intermediate and inner tubes il and ifi respectively. Said cable extends exteriorly of the inner tube through a male and female sleeve arrangement 42 on the end cap I2 slidably into a thin extension tube d3. lI'he remote end of said extension tube is connected to the operating cylinder 44 which is mounted by means of bracket clamps i5 on the steering post 4S of the motor vehicle as shown in Fig. l, The remote end of the cable, passing through said extension tube, is connected to a lever 41 within said operating cylinder. Said lever may project out through a slot extendin'g'the full length of said operating cylinder whereby same may be slidably moved up and down. In the extreme lowered position said lever contacts with a cap i3 on the bottom of the-operating cylinder thus closing the circuit and causing the bulb 'I8 to light, and in the extreme raised position the lever may be caught in a notch at the top of the operating cylinder thus retaining the cable together with the inner and intermediate tubes IG and I6 in the retracted position against the tensioned springs I3 and I5. In this retracted position the light bulb will showclear of the vehicle windshield 49 and thusrmay be used as a pass or parking light. For this purpose a switch button arrangement 50 may be provided on the upper end of the operating cylinder `whereby the circuit may be closed for the light bulb when same is in the retracted position.

In the outward or operative position of the `device the springs I3 and I5 project the tubes Ill and lll outwardly to the full extent and the fabric envelope 32 forms a chamber around the tubes. The reflector portionl 25 directs some of the light from the bulb I8 back through the spider member 22 into said envelope. The envelope is thus illuminated and, together with the light from theglobe E8, provides a very efficient and distinctive signal for auto-vehicles.

In'the modified form shown in Fig.- 5 of the drawing I have shown means whereby the device may be operated a pressure medium such'as compressed air or oil under pressure; VIn this case the central conduitV 34 is eliminated and the extension tube 43 supplies the pressure medium to the outer tube 'I. The pressure medium thus causes the inner tube I4 to move outwardly carrying the bulb I8 and the envelope 32 to the extended position by means of a connecting rod I. Said `rod is insulated from the bulb and current is'supplied to the bulb by a conduit 53 and returns to said rod from the socket of the bulb through a short ground wire 54. The pressure medium may be controlled by a suitable Valve arrangement and upon release of the pressure a return spring 52 carries the device back to the normally retracted position.

Having thus described my invention, it being understood that minor changes in its construction and arrangement may be resorted to without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:-

1. An auto-signaling device comprising an outer tube having an enlarged bowl end portion, a plurality of tubes telescopically mounted for slidableV movement into the cuter tube, an electrio bulb mounted on the outer end of the innermost tube, means whereby the telescoped tubes are caused to move to an extended or a retracted position, a reflector connected to the outer end of the innermost tube and arranged to form a partial clcsure for the enlargedbowl end portion of the outer tube, said reflector having an outwardly extending concave portion arranged to envelop a portion of thc bulb, a flexible envelope of translucent material having one of its ends connected to the reiiector and its other end connected to the enlarged bowl portion of the outer tube whereby said envelope forms a chamber around the tubes in their extended position when the reflector is moved outwardly from said enlarged bowl portion and folds into the enlarged bowl portion of the outer tube upon the retractive movement of the telescoped tubes, and the outwardly extending concave portion of the reflector being arranged to reflect some of the light from the bulby back into the envelope in its outwardly extended position.

2. "An auto-signaling device comprising an outer tube having an enlarged bowl end portion, a plurality 'of tubes telescopically vmounted for slidab'le movement back and forth within the' outer tube, 'an electric bulb mounted on the 'outer end of the innermost tube, means whereby the telescoped tubes are caused to move to an extended and a retracted position, -a reflector having an inner annular open end connected to the outer end of the, innermost tube and space-d apart therefrom, a transparent signal globe connected toV the periphery lof the reflector and enclosing the bulb, a flexible envelope of translucent material having one of its endsconnected to the inner open end of the reflector rand its other end connected to the enlarged bowl portion of the outer tube whereby said envelope is respectively folded and unfolded by the retractive and expansive movements of the telesooped tubes and whereby the envelope forms a chamber aroundthe tubes in their extended position, Vand said reflector having a concave interior reflecting wall extended outwardly -to envelop a portion of the electric bulb whereby some of the light therefrom is reflected back into thefchamber formed by the yflexible envelope in its extended position LEO J. BINDER. 

